Our Delta dentists are often asked about the importance of flossing. Patients wonder why they should bother to floss if they brush thoroughly twice a day? Here's why flossing should be an important part of your oral hygiene routine.
Keeping your smile healthy and looking it's best requires regular visits to your Delta dentist for checkups and cleanings and a good at-home dental care routine.
At-Home Dental Hygiene
A thorough at-home dental hygiene routine includes brushing your teeth for two minutes twice a day, and flossing once a day.
Our Delta dentists know that some of our patients who do a fabulous job brushing their teeth, skip flossing because they believe that brushing is sufficient for keeping their teeth and gums healthy.
But, even if you do brush well, flossing is important. Approximately 1/3 of each tooth's surface is difficult to reach with a toothbrush alone. When you skip flossing, those hard to reach places just aren't getting the cleaning that they need.
Flossing removes plaque and bacteria from those tight spaces between your teeth, and at your gum line where your toothbrush doesn't clean as well.
Plaque
Plaque is a leading cause of gum disease and cavities. Throughout the day a sticky film of plaque, builds up on your teeth. That plaque can lead to cavities, or get under your gum line possibly lead to gum disease.
Tartar
When plaque isn't removed from your teeth it quickly hardens and become tartar. In fact, plaque can become tartar in as little as just 36 hours!
Once the plaque has turned into tartar it needs to scraped off of your teeth by a dental professional.
Daily flossing prevents plaque from building up in the tight spaces between your teeth and hardening into tartar. Less tartar means less scraping the next time you visit your dental office for a cleaning, and less chance of developing gum disease, tooth decay, and cavities.
Flossing everyday can help to keep your teeth and gums healthy and looking great!